Creating a shortcut to another folder or drive shared on the network means you are mapping its location. Moreover, you can even create a shortcut to the network drive on your desktop for easier access.
How to Map a Network Drive in Windows 10
Mapping a network drive in Windows 10 allows you to quickly access data stored on a different machine. A mapped drive is a quick and easy way to access a remote hard drive. The remote hard drive can function as a local drive by assigning it a local drive letter. As such, it’s ideal for storing data that won’t fit on your computer, viewing files from a tablet, backing up content, and sharing file access with numerous people. You can try out these methods if you can’t map a network drive in Windows 10.
Method 1: Delete Your Current Network Drive and Remap
One of the most common scenarios where users can’t map a network drive in Windows 10 is when they update from v1909 to v2004. One of the indicators of this issue is the appearance of error 0x80070043 whenever the desktop user tries to connect on a network drive. If you are using Windows 10 V2004, try this method.
Method 2: Update to 20H2 Version
An incompatible Windows 10 version is another potential reason why the Network Drive map isn’t working. As you may recall, Windows already implemented the 21H1 update last May 10, 2021. If the network drive was configured using an older version, it might cause the mapping issue. To fix this, you might have to change to a previous stable build of Windows 10, the 20H2 Version. If this method still doesn’t work, try the next repair option.
Method 3: Disable Offline Files and Re-Enter Your Credentials
Many people like to keep offline copies of the network version, but sometimes an error occurs due to syncing issues. In this case, the file is not being updated when it reconnects to the network. We recommend disabling offline files from your system through this method: After restarting your computer, try accessing your network drive to see if it has resolved the issue. If not, proceed with the following repair suggestion.
Method 4: Use Local Group Policy Editor
Another solution, if you can’t map a network drive in Windows 10, is to ask your network manager or the drive owner to edit the Local Group Policy Editor.
Fixed Can’t Map a Network Drive in Windows 10 Issue
Mapping a network drive in Windows 10 is normally a simple process without a lot of hassle. However, if you’re having issues, hopefully one of the methods above fixed your issue. If you used a different solution, let us know in the comments.
